Marijuana legalization will not be a straightforward process in the nation’s capital, but the Washington Post published an editorial on Nov. 6 asking Congress to step out of Washington D.C.’s business when it comes to the issue of cannabis in the District.

“D.C. voters, as expected, gave overwhelming approval to a ballot initiative that would legalize marijuana and, as expected, there were immediate rumblings from Capitol Hill of plans to block its implementation,” the Post’s editorial board wrote under the headline “Congress should allow D.C.’s marijuana legalization to stand.” “We did not favor passage of Initiative 71, but we do believe in democracy and self-government. Congress should recognize how inappropriate it would be to interfere with the District on this local issue.”

The editorial goes on to address Maryland Republican representative Andy Harris, who has already promised to “stop this action.” And then the editorial drops a bomb on Harris’ intentions.

“Mr. Harris said his interest stems from concerns about the possible impact of legalization on adolescent drug use, yet he has shown little interest in the welfare of teenagers who reside in states that have moved to legalize the drug.”

Ricardo Baca is a contributing editor for The Cannabist. He was appointed The Denver Post's first marijuana editor in November 2013 and spearheaded the formation of The Cannabist, a division of the Post. Fortune magazine ranked Baca as one of the...